The VA has a duty to assist, but leaving your claim to that duty is a mistake. The veterans who win are the ones who hand the VA a complete file and leave nothing to chance.
The records that matter
- Service treatment records: anything documenting the in-service event or complaint.
- Private and VA medical records: current treatment showing the ongoing condition and its severity.
- Diagnostics: imaging, sleep studies, lab work — objective proof of the current disability.
- Lay statements: yours and buddy statements filling documentary gaps.
Match evidence to the rating criteria
It is not enough to prove you have the condition — the evidence has to show the severity that matches the percentage you deserve under 38 CFR Part 4. We read the criteria first, then gather the evidence that hits each rating threshold.